Algerian fans die in World Cup celebrations

At least 12 Algerians have died and 240 others were injured during celebrations for a 1-0 victory over Burkina Faso that sent the national team to the 2014 football World Cup in Brazil.

A government statement on Wednesday said that five celebrating fans were killed when a van slid off the road into a ravine in the mountain town of Bejaia, east of Algiers, while four others died in the southern city of Biskra in a car accident.

The remaining three died in other towns, the statement added without offering further details.

Residents described a great deal of reckless behavior in the course of the celebrations that continued throughout the night in some cities.

All across Algeria people poured into the streets to celebrate their team’s qualification for the cup, with young men driving their cars down the streets and honking their horns, despite heavy rain in the north Tuesday night.